Automobile antiskidding device.



R. A. MOORE.

AUTOMOBILE ANTISKIDDING DEVICE.

APPLICATIONHLED $3131.26, 1911.

Patented Feb. 18, 1913.

N. 't a t if v T MLBJE AUT@ SKID PRE- Specification of Letters Patent.

rammen ses. is, isis.

.lfb '.Z nui ogre t may concern f it linown that l, Renner A. Moons., a i of the United States, residing at New 'orlo in the county oit' New York and State oi. New York, have invented 'certain new and useiul improvements in Automobile Antiskidding Devices, of .which the following; is a specification.

The present invention embodies certain improvements in that type of skid preventing; means :t'or automobiles, and like vehi les, described in my application for patent, Serial li'umber 593,100, Bled November mio. i

While in my application above mentioned, the slrid preventing device set forth is adapted to accommodate to a certain eX- tent for inequalities in the surface against which it operates, said device is liable to be rendered inellectivey because, when one of the tread elements comprising the same strikes an obstacle, or inequality in the surtace of the ground, the other elements are liableto be raised from the surface and rendered inoperative.

My object in devising the present improvements has been primarily to increase the eliiciency of the above invention in relation particularly to the operation of the tread elements, the latter being now peculiariy mounted so as 'to move bodily with a supporting frame, in addition lto which movement they are susceptible or" simultaneous rocking and bodily movement on theA supporting; frame, as well as independent rocking and bodily movement.

The above arrangement and construction of parts permits practically lall of the tread elements to operate upon a surface irrespective of the engagement of one or more oi said elements with inequalities disposed either laterally or forwardly of the device.

With the above and other objects in view, this invention consists in the construction,

" combination, and arrangement or" parts, all

hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a side elevation' showing` the same.

The skid 3reventingA device hereinafter more fully described is preferably supported at the rear end of the vehicle by a stahdard 3 which .is hung in a pivotal manner from the rear axle of said vehicle. It is preferred that the standard 3 shall be connected with the vehicle at a point longitudinally central thereof in order not to, disturb the v equilibrium of the machine in traveling when the skid preventing means is thrown into operative relation to the ground. The exact manner of attachment of the standard 3 to the vehicle is immaterial, but coperating with said standard is a resilient device 4.- normally tending to hold the standard in such a position that the tread device supported by the lower end thereof is elevated from the ground. The tread device above mentioned constitutes the earth engaging means by 'which the skidding of the vehicle is prevented, and said device comprises essentially a frame 5 of somewhat rectangular form, the opposite sides of the frame having upwardly projecting ears 6 provided with openings through which apivot 7 passes, said `pivot also extending through the bilurcated lower portion 3 of the standard Peculiar-ly mounted in the frame 5 arey a plurality of tread elements 8 preferably in the form of' rollers. Wille any suitable number of rollers 8 may be utilized, it is contemplated' to employ three sets of these rollers, each set being mounted between a pair of plates 39. As shown, three pairsI of the plates 9 are employed, and said plates are formed at their central portions with lugs 9 corresponding somewhat in Yshape to the ears 6 at opposite sides 'of the frame 5. Slots 10 are formed in the lugs 9 and permit verticall bodily movement of the members 9 with the rollers 8 supported thereon. Secured to the lower end. portion rollers Sat the lower limit of movement prescribed by the length of the slots 10. lt will be apparent, however, that by reason of the independent mounting of the! sets of rotary tread elements 8, each set is adapted to yield upwardly independently of the adjacent set-or sets. This yieldability of the rollers 8 is an important advantage derived from the use of the present invention inthat as the'vehicle passes over a surface having lateral inequalities, the various' tread rollers 8 will yieldso as to cause all of the rollers to remain in operative contact with the surface upon which they may be depressed.

` In order to hold the sets ot' plates 9 in proper' spaced relation and to increase the substantiality of the connection betweenthe standard 3 and the frame `5 of the tread device, the biturcate portions 3 of the standard -3 are formed with downwardly projecting extensions 3. The extensions 3 are arranged on opposite sides of the intermediate set of plates 9 in the spaces between the said plates and the outer sets of plates.

The construction of the parts of the tread device, whereby operation of the invention uponfsurfaces having lateral inequalities having been described, it will be noted that the pivotal mounting afforded by the con nection between the sides of the trame 5 and the standard 3, permits the frame 5 to tilt bodily with the pivot 7 as its axis, thusv accommodating for proper 'operative contact of the device with the ground, even though the latter has inequalities of surface in advance of the skid preventing means. The forward and rearward tilting of the frame 5 upon the pivot 7 is limited by. means of hooks 12 which extend -forwardly and upwardly from .the frame 5 and engage over lugs 13 projecting from opposite sides of the standard 3. The hooks 12 limit the downward movement of the front end ofthe frame 5 with respect' to. the standard 3 and the front transverse end portion 5 of said frame, which is arranged just beneath the standard-3 limits the upward'inovement of said end of the frame. Since the rollersv 8 are supported by the plates 9 which virtually hang from the pivot 7, it is obvious that in addition to vertically yielding bodily movement thereot', the members S are supported so that ach 'set ,thereof may rock on said pivot. '..he several sets of rollers 8 therefore constitute independent tread members adapted i "tehicle, ofavstandar connected therewith for a rocking movement upon the standard."

At its rear end the frame 5 carries a dog 14 pivotally connected at its upper'end with the frame and adapted to ride overthe surventing device have been operated, said dog 14 will engage with Ythe surface over which the vehicle travelsand prevent rearward movement of the vehicle on release of 'brakes or under other conditionswhen the machine is liable to move rearwardly.

It is to be understood, of course, that the skid preventing device above described will be normally inoperative and any suitable means such as a chain 15 and foot lever 16 may be employed. to force the device into operative contact with the ground so as to perform its function in preventing skidding of the'machine such as may be readily anticipated by a driver when turning c orners or under similar conditions.

Having thus fully described my invention, what is claimed as new is :H I

1. The 'combination with a vehicle, of a swinging standard connected therewith, and

a skid preventing device connected with said standard and capable of independent bodily rockin movement with relation thereto, said sid preventing deviceV comprising ,a frame and independently movable tread members carried by said frame.

2. The combination with a vehicle, of a swinging standard connected therewith, a skid preventing device connected with said standard and capable of independent bodily rocking movement with relation thereto, said skid preventing rdevice comprising a frame, sets of rollers disposed in said frame,

and means permitting independent bodily movement of the sets of rollers with respect to the frame.

3. The combination with a vehicle, cfa. swinging standard connected therewith., a skid prevent-ing device connected with said standard and capable of independent bodily rocking movement with relation thereto, said skid preventing device comprising a' frame,

a plurality of platcs'disposed in said frame t-o haverestricted movement with relation thereto, androtary members carried by said plates.

4. The combination with a vehicle, of yaA skid preventing device adapted to be raised and lowered with respect to the vehiple and comprisinga frame, a standard connecting the frame with the vehicle, pairs of plates disposed in said frame, means permitting pivotal bodily movement and independent 'restricted vertical movement of said pairs of plates with relation to the frame, and a plurality ot' rollers mounted between each pair otplates and bodily movable with the same. i 5. The combination with the frame of a ground, a frame pivoted with the standard to bodily swing with relation thereto, a plu- Arality of longitudinal supports mounted in the frame to independently rise and fall with respect to the frame when the device is in its operative position, and a plurality of rollers carried by each of said longitudinal supports.

6. The combination with the frame of a vehicle, of a standard having its upper end pivotally connected therewith and its lower end forked for providing spacing elements, an open trame, a transverse pin passing through the lower forked end of the standard and the sides of the open frame, longitudinal spaced plates disposed in the open frame and provided with upstanding elongated slots to receive the transverse pin so that said plates' can have restricted independent vertieal movements with respect to the open frame, the spacing elements entering between the longitudinal plates to retain them in their requisite spaced positions, rollers lconnected with each longitudinal plate,

Aand means to swing the lower end of the standard toward the ground.

7. The combination with a standard to be pivotally connected with the frame of a vehicle, of a horizontal open frame pivotally connected with the standard to swing in a vertical plane, horizontal plates disposed in the open frame to independently rise andfall with respect thereto, a plurality ot 1oll ers carried by each horizontal plat). and dis posed upon opposite sides of the pivot connect-ion between the open frame and standard, and independently operating spring elements engaging the ditl'erent horizontal plates.

8. The combination with a swingingl standard, of an open frame provided midway of its ends with opstanding ears, a transverse pin passing through the ears and the lowerend of the standard so that the open frame can bodily swing with relation to the standard, means to limit this relative 'i swinging movement of the open frame, a plurality otl pairs ot' horizontal platesdisposed in the open trame and provided mid- 50 way of their ends with vertical elongated slots to receive the transverse pin, a plurality ot' rollers disposed between the plates in each pair and suitably connected therewith, and leaf spring attached to the standard and branching into several parts to eligage t-he pairs ot horizontal plates.

9. The eonibinat-ion with a swinging standard provided upon opposite sides with trunnions` ot' an open iframe having hooks at one end to tit over the trunnions, and a transverse portion disposed near and below the standard to serve as astop, means pivotally connecting the end ol the standard and t-he intern'iediate portion of the open trame, a plurality of rollers disposed in the open trame, and yielding means to retain such rollers in place in said open frame.

lt). The combination with an open trame, of horizontal plates disposed therein to have y restricted vertical movement with relation thereto, a iilnrality ot rollers carried by each plate, a plate pivotally connected with one end of the open trame to swing outwardly only, and suitable means to secure. the open trame to a'lvehiele.

ln testimony whereof l allix my signature in presence oi two \\'itnesses.

lROBERT A. MOORE. lVitnesses ('HAs. S'rmmnmn, 4(iinavnnrrr LnwiN. 

